Collapsible tube



mvzu on BY A mow/L roan A P WOOD COLLAPSIBLE TUBE Filed Nov. 6, 1925 April 17, 1928.

Patented Apr. 17, 1928.

UNITED STATES ALEXANDER PAUL woon, or sonmacmmr, 'NEW YORK,

ASSIGNOR 01' TWO- SEVERTHS TO VENIE 'WOODAPPEL, 01 NEW YORK, N. Y.

COLLAPSIBLE runs.

Application filed November 6 1825 Serial This invention relates to containers for viscous substances such as tooth paste, vaseline, grease etc. i

The principal object of the invention is 6 the production of a tube or container provided with an outlet opening whereby the contents of the tube may be extruded, said tube also having aclosure or valve which normally closes said outlet opening but which is adapted to be automatically opened by the contents of the tube when pressure is applied to said contents and to automatically reclose said outlet opening when pressure is released.

The invention also has for its object the production of a capless tube whereby the cost of manufacture of the tube is decreased and the possibility of the loss of a cap when the tube is in use is obviated.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the accompanying description taken in connection with the annexed drawings.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a practical embodiment of the invention in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a tube showing the invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation (partly in section) of the upper portion of the tube showing some of the contents being extruded.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged top plan view (partly broken away) of the tube.

Although the invention is not to be so limited I prefer to use it in conjunction with a collapsible tube of soft metal such as is now usually used for tooth paste.

Referring in detail to the several figures of the drawin s:

1 indicates the body of the tube, 2 the head thereof, 3 the neck which is integral with said head and 4 the top wall of the neck which may be secured to said neck in any dcsirable manner. Said top wall 4 is provided with an annular outlet opening 5 as illustrated, the base of which forms a valve seat preferably having a relatively pointed engagement surface for the purpose set forth below.

The head 2 is provided with a chamber 6 inwardly of the opening 5 for receiving a compression sprin 7 on which is seated a closure member s own in the present instance as a ball 8 referabl of metal which extends within the chamber 6 and also against the valve seat of the outlet opening 5 to normally close the same. The closure 8 is provided with an outwardly facing engagement surface extending from the portion thereof contacting with the opening 5 to the point of engagement thereof with the chamber wall 6. The head 2 is also provided with one or more passageways 9 preferably equidistantly spaced apart and preferably four in number. These passagewavs communicate with the interior of the y 1 and with a space in the upper inner portion of the neck 3 so that communication may be had with the outlet opening 5 when the ball 8 is pressed inwardly against the action of the spring 7 as shown in Fig. 2.

Assuming the body of the tube to be filled with a viscous substance such as grease or tooth paste, the contents of the tube may be extruded by merely applying pressure to said body as ordinarily, whereupon the contents will be forced outwardly in the tube through the passageways 9 and will contact with the engagement surface of the ball 8 forcing the latter inwardly within the chamber 6 against the action of the rin 7. The contents will then be extruded through the outlet opening 5 in an obvious manner. As soon as pressure is released from the body of the tube the action of the spring 7 again forces the ball 8 up into the opening 5 to effectively close said outlet opening, this action being facilitated by reason of the relatively pointed edge of the valve seat formed on the opening 5.

It will be noted that because of the particular construction of the device, the contents thereof is extruded in the form of a hollow tube as shown at 10 in Fig. 2 thereby facilitating the spreading thereof on any suitable object such as a tooth brush. It will be further understood that the invention is not limited to a device in which the tube itself must be compressed to extrude the contents as in some cases I propose to employ a tube of hard metal provided-with a piston or screw or similar device in its base which enga es the contents directly and in which case t e contents is extruded by pressure applied directly thereagainst, the action of t e valve being the same.

It will be further understood that various modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claim.

ber therein and with a passageway forming said chamber and communication between the interior of said tube and said outlet 0pen1ng,'a spring in a ball engaged by said spring and movable into or out of said chamber, 10 outlet opening un said ball normally closing said der the influence of said s ring, said ball being positioned in said cramber and extending into said passageway and being thereby subject to the influence of pressure of the contents of said tube therein for moving said ball away from said outlet opening and into said chamber.

Signed at Schenectady in the county of Schenectady and State of New York this 28th day of Oct., A. D. 1925.

' ALEXANDER PAUL WOOD. 

